Wishing you a Happy Easter this Thanksgiving season

OK!

EVG reader Riian Kant-McCormick writes in noting a 5-foot tall chocolate rabbit in the wild this far from Easter on Eighth Street just east of Broadway.

As always, there's likely a logical explanation for this.

Right you guys?

Owners of Macaron Parlor on St. Mark's Place opening city's first cat cafe

Christina Ha and Emilie Legrand, the owners of Macaron Parlour on St. Mark's Place, have announced that they are opening Meow Parlour on the Lower East Side next month.

According to Eater, who first reported this news today, the cat cafe will be at 46 Hester St. (between Essex and Ludlow) ... with a planned Dec. 15 opening date.

Here are details via the Meow Parlour website:

At Meow Parlour, you can rent time to access to our space, where we have adoptable free roaming cats. You can come for as little as half an hour so you can just pet the cats or stay for up to five hours where you can use our free wi-fi while a cat naps next to you.

You can bring in food or beverage you purchase at Meow Parlour Patisserie, located around the corner from Meow Parlour and enjoy a sweet treat in the company of a furry friend.

All the cats are adoptable. Meow Parlour has teamed up with KittyKind, an all volunteer, no kill rescue group located in NYC. KittyKind specializes in adopting out cats so if you fall in love, you can apply to adopt one!

And more via Eater:

It's $4 for every half hour, and there's a limit of five hours maximum. Plus, the cafe takes online reservations, which is probably a better bet than just trying to walk in.

As we've heard, cats are popular, unless you are a dog person, though it is not uncommon for people to like cats and dogs.

Last spring, the pop-up Cat Café on the Bowery attracted long lines. Really long lines.

Q-and-A with Vanessa McDonnell, director of the John's of 12th Street documentary

[EVG file photo]

John's of East 12th Street, the 106-year-old East Village treasure, is the subject of a new feature documentary that made its debut last night.

Here's a quickie recap of the 68-minute film: "This observational documentary loosely follows the rhythm of the restaurant’s day, which swings between boredom and frenzy as the old rooms empty and fill. No one who works at John’s is actually Italian, but some have been here for 40 years, including two pairs of brothers and a father and son. John's of 12th Street catalogues the overlooked details of working life and a vanishing New York City."

The documentary is the work of Vanessa McDonnell, a filmmaker and editor based in Brooklyn. She answered a few questions for us about the film.

Why was John’s of 12th Street an appealing subject for you?

I used to live on 14th and C in the worst apartment I’ve yet to encounter. My boyfriend (now husband) and I used to meet at John’s for dinner frequently and it was my escape from the hordes of mice, persistent gas leak and falling-down ceiling that was my life at the time (I slept with my head under a specially fashioned cardboard box so it wouldn’t be crushed).

John’s was a warm and friendly oasis of civilization for me, much more so than the trendy places that were inching their way toward Avenue C. It was like being lost in the woods but then finding your way to your grandmother's house where there’s food on the table.

I worked as a cook in an Italian restaurant throughout high school, and I had fond memories of the camaraderie and all of the daily rituals involved. I wanted to make a film that would show how special John’s is in particular, but also to show the small details of working life for the kitchen crew and waiters. We see a distorted version of this in all the food-related television that exists now, but not so much the actual vocation. I think the daily grind is really interesting.

What was the reaction from the folks there when you approached them with the idea?

My husband and I were eating one night when Mike Alpert, one of the owners, sat down at our table to chat, which you see him do a lot in the film. I was eating spaghetti and I brought up how Sophia Loren famously said "Everything you see, I owe to spaghetti,” which is something I like to bring up whenever possible.

Perhaps this endeared me to him. I actually asked him first if I could have a job. There has yet to be a female employee at John’s and after a bottle of wine I was feeling ambitious. He said no, so I asked him if I could make a film about the restaurant instead. Totally nonchalant, he gave his blessing, telling me not to get in the way too much. Both Mike and his business partner of 40 years Nick Sitnycky were incredibly friendly and helpful about my filming in the restaurant. I loved every minute I spent there.

You spent a month filming at John’s. What struck you the most about that experience?

I was struck by how many interesting and sometimes eccentric things happened in front of my camera. At first I thought to myself, “Wow. I’m getting really lucky here.” But then I realized it’s just the normal day at John’s.

Granted, these are things that I find interesting and charming and not the sort of things that would find their way into a food network show. For instance, a guy drove all the way from Canada because he’s obsessed with John Lennon and he got confused reading something on the Internet the day before, thinking it said that John’s is haunted by Lennon’s ghost. Also, people talk animatedly about the Gotti trial. The most argumentative handyman ever comes by to fix things. A regular starts singing an opera. Another weighs in passionately on Italian-American food as a legitimate cuisine unto itself, pointing out that “millions of billions” of plates of veal parmesan have been served and people like it.


[John's owner Nick Sitnycky with longtime employee Pedro. Photo last December by James Maher]

What do you think makes John’s special?

The allure of John’s is so hard to articulate. So many new restaurants try to create that atmosphere of warmth and history by designing the space and the menu in certain ways, and some people probably like a sanitized version that only hints at authenticity.

John’s is the real thing and unfortunately there are fewer and fewer places like it. It feels like a very open public space to me — as much as a place of business can — it’s not a place that is selective or self-selecting. You can go there and encounter many different kinds of people and it somehow encourages interaction. This is one of the crucial things that gets ruined when an area becomes transformed by the powers that be who are killing New York City right now — namely the collusion of government, real estate interests and corporations to create pockets of homogenous, uninteresting people.

I hope I was able to convey what makes John’s great in the film. There are so many little things that add up to the whole. Once I was eating there and the waiter asked if I wanted fresh pepper. I said yes. He starts grinding. After a few seconds I say, “Thank you,” meaning, in my mind, “okay you can stop now’. He said, “You’re welcome,” and keeps grinding. I said thanks again and again he keeps saying ‘you’re welcome,” continuing to grind. I looked up at him and said it again, he was actually getting tired from the grinding, grinding with effort. My food was covered with so much pepper. Finally I realized I was supposed to just say “Stop,” and I did, not a moment too soon. He came back several minutes later with a large, soup-size bowl full of pepper, saying, “Here, since you like it so spicy.”

Another time, I had a birthday gathering with about 25 people. The restaurant was really busy and maybe they were short on staff that night, so our waiter was really put through the paces, running back and forth and doing everything at once. At the end of the night he was really tired, his tie was hanging off and he was actually out of breath. He brought out the remains of my cake and I cut him a slice. He gave me a hug and said, “We did it!”

You can check out the trailer here...

As the flyer shows, there are screenings on Sunday night at 7:30, Nov. 22 at 10 p.m., Nov. 28 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 30 at 5 p.m. (Not on the poster: The screening Saturday night at 10.)



The screenings are at Spectacle in Williamsburg. Details here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
About the new ownership for 105-year-old East Village institution John's of 12th Street

Report: Deal for East Village treasure John's of 12th Street is off

Out and About in the East Village with Nick Sitnycky Part 1 and Part 2

The John's of 12th Street documentary premieres next month

Native Bean will be moving on Avenue A

[EVG file photo]

The Native Bean space at 50 Avenue A between East Third Street and East Fourth Street has been on and off the market since September 2011.

Now EVG Facebook friend Steve Fagan shares some good news about the cafe's future. The Native Bean will be closing up shop on Nov. 26 ... with a new home lined up at the former space that Angelina Cafe used before moving across A.

The Native Bean is hope for a seamless transition ... per the signs up in the space...



No. 50 is on the market for $9,500 a month.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Space that houses Native Bean on Avenue A is for rent

Native Bean space apparently back on the market

57 Second Ave. hits the market for $30 million

Here's the listing that arrived yesterday at Massey Knakal:

A 10-story, mixed-use building located on the west side of 2nd Avenue between East 3rd and East 4th Streets. The building consists of two ground floor retail units with 33 residential units on the above floors. The ground floor retail units are both leased on a month to month basis for $3,000/month and $4,000/month or approximately $38/SF, in an area that commands rents in excess of $150/SF.

Currently, 28 of the residential units are RS, 2 are RC, 2 units are employee occupied, and 1 unit is owner occupied. The average in-place rent is less than $25/SF which is a fraction of market. This represents an excellent opportunity to take advantage of strong in-place cash flow while adding substantial value in the retail rents. The seller’s preference is to sell the shares in the corporation as opposed to a fee simple interest.

The price tag: $30 million.

And not a really good sign for the longterm future of the shoe repair/barber shop and hardware store in the retail spaces.

The Marshal seizes Cafe Cambodge on Avenue C

A tipster tells us that Cafe Cambodge, the French-Cambodian restaurant at 111 Avenue C near East Seventh Street, is closed for the time being.

There is a notice on the front door noting that the Marshal has seized the property ... and it is in the possession of the landlord.



Cafe Cambodge opened here back in February ... after the owner revamped the space from its 6-year run as Arcane.

Resurfacing East Houston

Crews were out last night (and early this morning) putting down new asphalt on East Houston … from Norfolk to Orchard … EVG readers Gacin and Jonathan shared these photos from the blessed event that is just one part of the ongoing East Houston Street Corridor Reconstruction that began in 1891…







BoweryBoogie asked a good question: What’s the over/under on when the jackhammers appear to tear up the road anew?

Facebook unveils its new office tonight in Midtown South on Astor Place

Facebook is throwing its official unveiling ceremony tonight to show off its new 185,000-square-foot space at 770 Broadway and East Ninth Street... an area of the city that the media likes to refer to as Midtown South. (We've gone over all this before.)

The headline in The Wall Street Journal today reads — Facebook Sees Midtown South Office as Recruitment Tool.

What can the 500 Facebook employees expect on the 3-floor space?

Food and coffee are focal points. The coffee bar, which at evening events can double as a real bar, serves four kinds of coffee and offers five different preparation methods.

The daily cafeteria menu is created by Facebook New York’s executive chef, Nate Eckhaus, who has worked at such city restaurants as Eleven Madison Park and Blue Smoke. At different stations, labels note the provenance of the fare — as in, organic red cabbage from a New Jersey farm or shaved organic fennel from Pennsylvania.

And what about the Facebook effect on this Midtown South neighborhood?

“A company like that would have influence wherever they go, between the local retail and local businesses,” said Jim Wenk, executive vice president at real estate service firm JLL. “They also have a lot of high-paying jobs.”

Previously on EV Grieve:
Facebook is moving into the neighborhood; Midtown South expands its boundaries, apparently

Report: Maps show that Midtown South does NOT include the East Village/Astor Place

Out and About in the East Village

In this weekly feature, East Village-based photographer James Maher provides us with a quick snapshot of someone who lives and/or works in the East Village.



By James Maher

Name: Ben Bahud
Occupation: Owner, New York Ink, Magazine and Convenience Store
Location: Avenue A, between East Fourth Street and East Fifth Street
Time: 12:30 pm on Sunday, Nov. 10

I was born in Israel, but my background — I’m Palestinian. I’ve been here almost 25 years. I was 22 when I came over and I’m 47 now. I came by myself. I worked for somebody back home who had a restaurant here on St. Mark's Place. They liked my work and asked me if I wanted to come, and as a young man you always want to get out there and do better, you know?

I worked in Café Mogador on St. Mark's Place for almost six years and then I started my own restaurant. I worked in the kitchen as a cook. I was a chef. But, you know, I never really wanted to be a good chef. It was just something to start with, and then I opened my own restaurant. I opened a few stores like that.

I always wanted to do business. I love business. I always did investments here and there and there. Any small investment that I believe in I will put money into. Right now I just invested in a cleaning store on 6th Street. Any opportunity out there, if I feel it will be successful. So far, I haven't done any bad investments. The worst, I got my money back.

I work online now, day trading. I always had a broker and then one day I saw in the newspaper, I’m talking about like 20 years ago, an add for E-Trade where you could do it yourself. I just couldn’t believe it. And back then I couldn’t speak much English and said, ‘Oh wow, really?’ Because money with brokers, you don’t do very much. I started on my own. I was losing, losing, losing, and making, and losing. Then, you know, as you grow up, kids, college, you start becoming more serious. I trade the right stuff.

I love Avenue A. The storefront glass was broken when I first took the place. This is how bad this area was. [This spot] wasn’t my choice really. You look for an empty spot and it was a few blocks away from St. Mark's Place. I started as an investor. I never wanted to leave my job.

My landlord, rest in peace, was a German concentration [camp survivor]. He had a mark on his hand. I loved him. I worked with him many years. My partner worked as a waiter in the restaurant that I worked in. I asked my partner to go to talk to the landlord to get the place and he wouldn’t give it to him. Then I went to talk to him and he gave it to me. He probably thought, ‘This guy he came from another country, he’s planning to work hard.’ My landlord would always teach me stuff. Do this, do that, why don’t you do this? He was funny but at the same time he was a lawyer and a very good businessman. He passed away and now I work with his daughter. They’re very reasonable.

[Eventually] my friend had to go. He didn’t do very well. He was more artistic. He was nice. He had the place looking much better than it’s looking now, but money wise, no money. So I bought him out and I put somebody else in and then I came in. Then I tried it myself, it worked and I stayed here, and my wife came and worked with me another seven years. When I got in I could tell that I really liked it. I never thought that one day I would be selling cigarettes and magazines, but I did it. I liked it. It was alright.

The neighborhood definitely changed, big time. When I first took this store, I used to pay like $700 a month. And the people — the people were totally different. Especially the magazine business, it’s nothing like before. It’s nothing like 2008, not too long ago. People look at everything online now. People still buy here and there, but nothing like they used to. Newspapers especially. I used to sell like 60, 70 New York Times. Now I sell like 10, 15. There are still drinks, cigarettes. You end up making it. It’s not bad.

No offense to anybody but that’s the truth, you know. Before it was real bad. You even couldn’t walk on this street. The homeless and the rehab places are still here, so you still feel that 20 years ago thing, but it is to me, cool. It’s not bad or good, but it’s true. It’s mixed. Believe it or not, I get along more with people like this. They’re more human. Somebody you could talk to, you could laugh, we joke, they tell you their story. It’s not a hi-and-bye thing. I love them and I hope for the best for them. Hopefully they’ll heal.

Where I come from… I don’t know how to call it, but we’re street people too, so I get along with everybody. It was scary here but when people knew you and how you talk and stuff. I’ve just been blessed, thank God. No problems. I get along with everybody.

James Maher is a fine art and studio photographer based in the East Village. Find his website here.

New residential building for former Mobil station lot will be 10 floors with 0 zero affordable units

[EVG file photo via www.anitam.com]

Last we heard, developers had plans for a 9-story mixed-use building at the site of the former Mobil station on East Houston and Avenue C. Plans called for 45 residential units and 4,550 square feet of commercial space at the all-new 11 Avenue C.

However, the Commercial Observer got the scoop on the latest rendering, which features floor-to-ceiling corner windows and a few balconies.



Paperwork that the Commercial Observer obtained shows that Lloyd Goldman's BLDG Management are applying to build a 10-floor building.

And what else?

BLDG must petition the city for the variance in order to install the retail component and build out the oddly-shaped lot to full capacity, according to its application. BLDG officials hope to use an inclusionary housing bonus by paying for affordable units elsewhere rather than including them in the new project, the application says.

Uh, so where is "elsewhere" for these affordable units?

The 14-month-long construction project is expected to start in January if the one- and two-bedroom rental project gains approval from Board of Standards and Appeals.

Previously on EV Grieve:
You have a little longer to get gas on Avenue C

Plans filed for new 9-story building at site of Mobil station on East Houston and Avenue C

RUMOR: Gas station going, boutique hotel coming on Second Avenue? (31 comments)

BP station on 2nd Avenue closes this month

State seizes Mobil station on Avenue C and Houston for nonpayment of taxes

John Lurie's new live Internet radio show debuts tonight

Here are the details via the EVG inbox…

VICE announces the forthcoming VICE After Dark With John Lurie, to be live-streamed on VICE.com via YouTube, and hosted by musician, artist and cult icon John Lurie. The show marks VICE's first-ever live Internet radio show.

The mini-series will premiere tonight at 9 EST, with Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers as a special guest; with additional guest to be announced. Lurie will also provide his musings on a wide-range of subjects in the experimental 90-minute format, throughout which listeners will be invited to call-in and contribute to the show.

Listeners are invited to join the conversation with John Lurie at (347) 474-0415. The second episode will air on Nov. 19, with more episodes to follow.



For the last 12 years, Lurie has focused on painting. His works, which are viewable here, have been shown in galleries and museums around the world. Prior to painting, he produced, directed, and starred in the television series and cult hit "Fishing with John," now available on DVD through the Criterion Collection. Lurie also co-founded the jazz group the Lounge Lizards in 1978, and has composed the scores of more than 20 films. This is his first collaboration with VICE.

His acting credits include Jim Jarmusch's "Stranger Than Paradise" from 1984…

The all-new El Sombrero soft opens tomorrow night

We walked by El Sombrero/The Hat the other morning… taking in the all-new exterior here on Ludlow and Stanton…







The new owners, Jose Almonte and Jose Almonte Jr., are related to the folks who ran El Sombrero the previous 30 years. And they plan on a soft opening tomorrow night with a few select menu items and a full bar. The full menu will be available starting Monday.

An EVG Facebook friend got an impromptu sneak preview this week … and said that the refurbished space looks great … part of the interior includes a giant print of the old El Sombrero…


[Photo by Chrisinda Wain via Facebook]

In addition, the new menu with fresh ingredients looks to be affordable. The new owners kept the old margarita machine (though they still can't sell them to go as in past years).

Here a recap of what has happened here as far as we can remember:

Business at the 30-year-old mainstay had dropped off … then came word that Artichoke Pizza wanted the space… those plans fell through, and, after a reprieve, the inexpensive Mexican restaurant closed for good on March 22. However, El Sombrero returned with new owners on April 1 … before they closed the space for renovations in mid-May.

Christo and Dora in sunset serenade

Wow… Goggla spotted hawk parents Christo and Dora at a usual meeting spot atop the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer on East Third Street…

Today's hawk(s)

Hanging out atop St. Brigid's… and in Tompkins Square Park…



Photos via Bobby Williams